Window sash construction



Nov. 26, 1963 R. G. BROWN WINDOW SASH CONSTRUCTION s Sheets-Sher. 1

Filed Sept. 14, 1961 ll #7 FIGBB I l I IN V EN TOR.

ROY 6. BROWN Oberlin, "lukg Dommlly ATTORNEYS Ndv. 26, 1963 R. a. BROWNWINDOW SASH CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 14, 1961 7 a j a om B \vllll W 0. IY Y m 1 M Q Q 6 m M o "a m B m 2 Y O M m a O B .6 F l 20W FIG 2B ATTORNEYS Nov. 26, 1963 R. G. BROWN 3,111,725

WINDOW SASH CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I I l N4} i 2* 3 FIG 6 v. Q

FIG 7 INVENTOR.

ROY G. BROWN ayobulmmnkg 400M119 ATTORNEYS United States Patent tion ofVirginia Filed Sept. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 138,163 Claims. (Cl. 20-42) Thisinvention relates to window construction and, more particularly, to alouver sash type window structure in which a plurality of sashes orvents are superimposed and interconnected for synchronous movement, thewindow having an inward opening sash and one or more outwardly openingsashes.

The use of louver sash type window structures has become very popular,particularly those of aluminum metal sash and frame. However, manyexisting structures are too complex for economical manufacture, aredifiicult to install and, after installation, are subject to failuresnecessitating repairs and replacements. Other known structures have anunattractive appeanance owing to exposed mechanisms, while still othershave omitted sash bars resulting in much weaker structures.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a window of thetype described of simple construction which is easy to install and whichprovides easy, troublefree operation.

Another object is to provide such a window construction wherein all ofthe actuating mechanism and hinges are concealed when closed, therebypresenting a neat and attractive appearance.

A further object is to provide such a window construction havinghorizontal sash bars between the sash elements to strengthen thestructure.

Yet another object is to provide such a window construction wherein theactuating mechanism utilizes a series of rods, levers and links whichserve to hold all sashes in a closed-locked position when one sash islocked and, also, serve statically to support the sashes when they areopen without the necessity of props, cranks or the like.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description procecds.

To the accompils-h ment of the foregoing and related ends, theinvention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a window construction according to thisinvention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b represent sectional views of the upper and lowerportions respectively of the window taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are views similar to FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrating theclosed position of the sashes;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3b showingthe side of the sash in phantom;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-6 of FIG. 3b showingthe side of the sash in phantom; and

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FIG. 7 is a partial section tflten along line 7-7 of FIG. 3b.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the embodiment of myinvention there illustrated comprises a rectangular main frame 11 havingtherein an inwardly opening lower hopper sash l2 and at least oneoutwardly opening upper vent sash 13. As can be seen in FIG. 1, thecentral portion of the window contains a panel of fixed glass 14 whichmay be glazed either from the inside or the outside as desired. The top,bottom and sides of the frame 11 may desirably be formed of aluminumangle members having laterally extending side flanges 15 adapted toengage the outer surface of the wall in which the window is installed.The interior of the frame surrounding the lower hopper sash 12 consistsof aluminum angle members it providing a neat and pleasing appearance asviewed from within the building and cancealing the sash mounting meansfrom View. Similarly, the frame surrounding the upper vent sash includesaluminum angle members 17 which serve the same purpose.

Fixed, transversely extending sash bars .18 and 19 preferably integralwith the main frame 11 serve to significantly strengthen the windowconstruction and to frame the fixed glass portion 14 and the upper andlower sash members 12 and 13. The upper horizontal portion of the frame111 also has an outwardly protruding downturned lip or flange 2% whichreceives the upper edge of the upper vent sash to provide a weather sealwhen the latter is in a closed position.

ElG. 2a and 3a illustrate in section the upper vent sash in its open andclosed positions respectively. As shown, the side member 21 of the sashis pivotally attached to upper toggle lever 22. The upper end of sidemember 21 is pivotally and slidably con ected to the side of frame 11 ingenerally vertical slideway 23 so that when the upper vent sash 13 isopened it will slide downwardly as well as pivot outwardly. The slideway23 is downwardly inclined slightly in the outward direction as shown.Upper toggle lever 22 is pivotally attached to bracket 24 which isconnected to the side of frame 11. The upper bolt of the latterconnection 25 rests in a slotted hole to permit adjustment of thebracket laterally; such adjustment enables the bottom of upper vent sash13 to be properly set up tight to the sash bar 18 thereby improving theseal.

An upper link 26 is pivotally connected at one end to upper toggle lever22 and also pivotally connected at its other end to the push rod 27.When the upper vent sash 13 is in its closed position (FIG. 3a), thelink 26 is in a position outwardly and downwardly inclined to the pushrod for two reasons: (1) this permits camming lever action between thepush rod and the upper toggle lever when the window is to be opened; and(2) provides a substantial horizontal component holding the vent sashclosed when upward vertical compression is maintained in the push rod.The push rod is slidably connected to the side of frame 11, beingmounted in guides 28 in its upper portion. The guides 23, as clearlyshown in FIG. 4, are a pair of blocks of low-friction material(preferably nylon) connected to the frame 11 having a hole thereinthrough which the push rod 27 passes. The upper portion of push rod 27is provided with a long central longitudinal slot 29; a pair ofadjusting screws 3% are mounted transversely to the slot and are capableof expanding the width thereof. iThus, adjust ment of the screws 3%;enables the friction between the push rod 2'7 and the guides 28 to beincreased, thereby permitting a careful adjustment of the degree ofopening of the vent and hopper without fear of their moving under theirown weight. The lower portion of the push rod 27 is laterally offset asshown in 2b, passing through lower sash bar 19. The lower end of thepush rod is connected to a block 31 of low-friction material (pref rablynylon) which slides within aluminum angle member 16. The block 31 ispivotally connected to lower toggle lever 32. A backing plate 33 isattached to the back of the block and serves to support thelastmentioned two connections. The other end of lower toggle lever 32 isconnected to side member 34 of lower hopper sash l2. Hopper sash supportbars 35 and 3.5 are pivotally interconnected at 3'7 with support bar 35being connected to the side 34 of the lower hopper sash and support bar35 being connected to the frame liner to as shown in FIG. 7; the latteralso serves the purpose of acting as a stop surface for block 31 as thehopper sash is opened thereby limiting the extent of window opening (seeFIG. 2b). This arrangement serves adequately to hinge the lower hoppersash 12 to the frame 11 and permit limited inward movement thereof.

The glazing of the sash members can be accomplished by any suitablemeans; however, as shown with reference to upper vent sash 13 in FIG.2a, the glass 41 is puttied at 42 with the latter being held in place byhollow channels 43 surrounding the inner periphery of the sash andbearing against the puttied edge portion or the glass.

.The lower hopper sash 12 is provided with a rotatable latch lock 51which is engageable behind catch 52 screwed onto the underside of lowersash bar 19. Owing to the linkage arrangement of the actuating mechanismdescribed above, locking the lower hopper sash closed will alsoeffectively lock the upper vent sash closed since the upward compressiveforce on the push rod 27 is at a maximum in this position.

With reference to the mode of operation of the window constructiondescribed above, FIGS. 3a and 351 show the upper and lower sash membersin their closed position. When the lower hopper sash 12 is unlocked anddrawn inwardly, lower toggle lever 32 will lower the push rod 27. Thismotion will in turn force upper link rod 26 against the central portionof upper toggle lever 22 rotating the latter outwardly. The pivotalinterconnection of toggle lever 22 with the upper vent sash 13 willcause the latter to slide downwardly in slide- Way 23 while it issimultaneously pivoted outwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2a. itcan be seen that in this position that there is sufficient space betweenthe upper part of the frame 11 and the upper vent sash 13, for one toclean the exterior of the latter by reaching out from the inner side ofthe window. When the lower hopper sash 12 is manually forced to theclosed position, the lower toggle lever 32 will move the push rod 27upwardly closing upper 'vent sash l3 by interaction of the upper togglelever 22 and upper link rod 26. As the lower hopper sash is graduallyclosed, the upward compressive force transmitted to the push rod 27 bythe lower toggle lever 32 increases to a maximum in the closed position(shown in Fl. 31:) where the angle between the two members is about 180degrees thereby locking the upper vent sash closed. In the closedposition the sash members press against the frame members along weatherseal portions 61 which are preferably of rubber or plastic to form aseal.

As previously indicated, more than one upper vent sash may be mounted ina single window construction in the same manner as shown herein for ventsash 13, all of which may be similarly operated by a single actuatingpush rod.

The above described window construction has been found to beparticularly advantageous in realizing the above mentioned objects ofthis invention, and particularly to provide a smoothly acting window ofthe vent and hopper type which may easily be cleaned from the inside.Further, the Window construction of this invention closes as smoothlyand easily as it opens which is not generally true of conventional ventspivoted on swing arms that slide down from the top.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

1 therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:

1. A window structure comprising a main frame, a pair of transverselyextending frame members, a lower hopper sash hinged at its base openinginwardly, an intermediate flxed pane mounted between said frame members,an upper vent sash pivotally and slidably connected at its top to saidmain frame for downward sliding and outward swinging movement, a pushrod in a side of said main frame reciprocable in the vertical direction,a lower toggle lever pivotally connected to the lower part of said pushrod and to the side of said lower hopper sash, an upper toggle lfiVei'pivotally connected to said main frame and to the side of said uppervent sash, and an upper link pivotally connected to the upper part ofsaid push rod and to said upper toggle lever, whereby inward movement ofsaid lower hopper sash lowers said push rod by said lower toggle leverthereby forcing said link against said upper toggle lever to lower andswing said vent sash outwardly.

2. A window structure comprising a main frame, a pair of transverselyextending frame members, a lower hopper sash hinged at its base openinginwardly, an intermediate fixed pane mounted between said frame members,an upper vent sash pivotally and slidably connected at its top to saidmain frame for downward sliding and outward swinging movement, a pushrod vertically reciprocable in the side of said main frame, the lowerend of said push rod being connected to vertically slidable block means,a lower toggle lever pivotally connected to the lower part of said blockmeans and to the side of said lower hopper sash, an upper toggle leverpivotally connected to said main frame and to the side of said uppervent sash, and an upper link pivotally connected to the upper part ofsaid push rod and to the central portion of said upper toggle lever,whereby inward movement of said lower hopper sash lowers said push rodby said lower toggle lever thereby forcing said link against said uppertoggle lever to lower and swing said vent sash outwardly.

3. A window structure comprising a frame, a lower hopper sash hinged atits base to said frame opening inwardly, at least one vent sashpivotally and slidably connected at its top to said frame for downwardsliding and outward swinging movement, a push rod in a side of saidframe longitudinally reciprocable in the vertical direction, the upperpart of said push rod passing through guide means attached to saidframe, said upper part of said push rod being expansible to increase thefriction of the rod when passing through said guide means, a lowertoggle lever pivotally connected to the lower part of said push rod andto the side of said lower hopper sash, an upper toggle lever pivotallyconnected to said frame and to the side of said upper vent sash, and anupper link pivotally connected to the upper part of said push rod and tosaid upper toggle lever, whereby inward movement of said lower hoppersash lowers said push rod by said lower toggle lever thereby forcingsaid link against said upper toggle lever to lower and swing said ventsash outwardly.

4. A window structure according to claim 3 wherein the upper part ofsaid push rod is longitudinally slotted, said rod having adjustablemeans to expand said slot.

5. A window structure comprising a frame, a lower hop er sash hinged atits base to said frame, opening inwardly, at least one vent sashpivotally and slidably connected at its top to said frame for downwardsliding and outward swinging movement, a push rod in a side of saidframe reciprocable in the vertical direction, a lower toggle leverpivotally connected to the lower part of said push rod and to the sideof said lower hopper sash, an upper toggle lever pivotally connected tosaid frame and to the side of said upper vent sash, and an upper linkpivotally connected to the upper part of said push rod and to said uppertoggle lever, the pivot between said upper toggle lever and said framebeing laterally movable to properly set the bottom of said vent sash uptight to said frame whereby inward movement of said lower hopper sashlowers said push rod by said lower toggle lever thereby forcing saidlink against said upper toggle lever to lower and swing said vent sashoutwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,659,103 Hauser Feb. 14, 1928 1,959,941 Wiley May 22, 1934 2,087,760Hauser July 20, 1937 2,403,565 Triller July 9, 1946 2,617,156 McMurrayNov. 11, 1952 2,620,523 Broleman Dec. 9, 1952 2,743,796 Focht et al May1, 1956 2,778,630 Pearson Jan. 22, 1957

1. A WINDOW STRUCTURE COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME, A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELYEXTENDING FRAME MEMBERS, A LOWER HOPPER SASH HINGED AT ITS BASE OPENINGINWARDLY, AN INTERMEDIATE FIXED PANE MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS,AN UPPER VENT SASH PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY CONNECTED AT ITS TOP TO SAIDMAIN FRAME FOR DOWNWARD SLIDING AND OUTWARD SWINGING MOVEMENT, A PUSHROD IN A SIDE OF SAID MAIN FRAME RECIPROCABLE IN THE VERTICAL DIRECTION,A LOWER TOGGLE LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE LOWER PART OF SAID PUSHROD AND TO THE SIDE OF SAID LOWER HOPPER SASH, AN UPPER TOGGLE LEVERPIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN FRAME AND TO THE SIDE OF SAID UPPERVENT SASH, AND AN UPPER LINK PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER PART OFSAID PUSH ROD AND TO SAID UPPER TOGGLE LEVER, WHEREBY INWARD MOVEMENT OFSAID LOWER HOPPER SASH LOWERS SAID PUSH ROD BY SAID LOWER TOGGLE LEVERTHEREBY FORCING SAID LINK AGAINST SAID UPPER TOGGLE LEVER TO LOWER ANDSWING SAID VENT SASH OUTWARDLY.